Aftenposten on line, Oslo, Norway, 15 May 2007

Whipped for two beers

Mamand Mamandy is still receiving treatment
for the public lashing he received.
PHOTO: PRIVAT

Norwegian-Iranian Mamand Mamandy had a brutal meeting with
police after drinking two beers while on holiday in Iran.

"It's getting better now, but I am still in great
pain," Mamandy, 35, told Aftenposten.no. "My brother is
a doctor, and treated me after the whipping. I was in great pain
and could not sleep."

Mamandy, a Kurd, explained that he was visiting his mother in
Baneh, Iran in April when he was arrested by police.

"We were on an outing with family and friends, six or
seven in the evening, and were having a barbecue and enjoying
ourselves. Altogether I drank two beers. The police happened to
drive by," Mamandy said.

He said that he was immediately arrested and taken to the
police station where he was sentenced to 130 lashes. This
sentence, for beer drinking, was carried out publicly according
to news agency Iran Focus.

"I received 130 lashes on the back of my body. Police
whipped me," Mamandy said. He came to Norway as an asylum
seeker in 1999. He lives in Drammen with his wife and they are
awaiting Norwegian citizenship.

Mamandy traveled home to Norway shortly after his punishment
and has been since treated by his family doctor here.

Aftenposten.no has been in contact with the Foreign Ministry,
who said that they had not been contacted by Mamandy or his
family in connection with the matter.